A prolific thief has been jailed for four years after admitting a series of thefts, including stealing a paramedic’s bag from the inside of an ambulance.
Jason Shields, 34, of no fixed abode was handed the four year sentence after being charged with theft from a motor vehicle, two counts of burglary, fraud, making off without paying and handling stolen goods. As he appeared before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on Friday (1 May).
The court heard how on 21 March, an Emergency Care Assistant was attending to a patient when Shields took her bag out of the cab of the ambulance as it was parked on Dale Road. With bankcards from within the bag later being used in shops across the Rawmarsh area.
Shields was initially arrested for this offence the following Friday (27 March). Working alongside local neighbourhood officers, detectives then linked him to two burglaries which had taken place in the town earlier that week.
The first, on 23 March, saw Shields smash a rear door to a property in West Melton before making off with a Dell laptop and a designer watch. Two days later, on 25 March, Shields gained access to a property in Munsbrough before stealing a Playstation, a Samsung phone, bank cards and £10 in cash.
Detective Constable Joanne Wilson, who lead the investigation said: “Burglary is such an intrusive crime and can have a bigger impact than people think. Many people are already facing a great deal of worry at the moment and through his actions, Shields really added to that.
“I am satisfied with the sentence he has received and hope the public are reassured that we treat burglary as an absolute priority here in Rotherham. We are sharing intelligence, tracing people carrying out offences and bringing them before the courts.”
